Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, July 11th, CAUSE hosted the final session and graduation of the 2020 Leadership Institute. The event was hosted online via video conferencing in adherence to COVID-19 safety guidelines and in consideration of the health and wellness of all participants.
The sixth session started with an Alumni Panel featuring Andrew Murphy (CLI 2018), Managing Director of Policy and Communications at Teach for America, and Dr. Jasmeet Bains (CLI 2019), California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commissioner of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. The conversation was an apt close to the program as it took fellows on a journey from gaining insights from their predecessors to considering their future actions and reflecting on their values, especially in civic engagement.
The day ended with a graduation ceremony to celebrate the 28 graduating fellow’s completion of the Leadership Institute program. California State Controller Betty Yee, who spoke at the last session in-person, served as the Keynote Speaker acknowledging the changes since that meeting in March. Controller Yee recognized each fellow for the critical difference they can make, especially during challenging times, stating “You have the opportunity and responsibility to act boldly. Each of us is essential to the other. This moment is too big to do anything less.” After these moving remarks, the celebration concluded with a final presentation slide marking each of the fellows a graduate of the program.
The CAUSE Leadership Institute (CLI) is a community leadership and advocacy training certificate program for high-potential professionals with seasoned leadership experience and a passion for serving the needs of the APA community in California. Participants complete the program armed with the skills and connections vital to advocate for the APA community. Graduates of this program have gone on to change the civic landscape in the region through elected office and leadership roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Our program is highly selective and each member of our cohort is selected based on their leadership abilities, public service, and community involvement. Program fellows are identified by leading elected officials, select nonprofit partner organizations, CAUSE Board Members, and CAUSE Alumni.
Read more about this year’s Leadership Institute cohort here.